Chapter 9 - Consciousness

Unit Objectives

Define consciousness. Describe the work of cognitive scientists and cognitive neuroscientists. (See introductory section; see also "Analyzing Consciousness.")
Describe the three main questions that dominate the psychological study of consciousness today. Be sure to include dualism and materialism, the theater view versus the parallel distributed processing models of consciousness, and the link between mental activity and conscious awareness. (See "Analyzing Consciousness.")
Distinguish among the various levels of conscious activity: conscious, nonconscious, preconscious, and unconscious. Give an example of each. (See "Levels of Consciousness.")
Describe priming. (See "Mental Processing Without Awareness.")
Discuss the research on subliminal messages in rock music. (See "Focus on Research Methods: Subliminal Messages in Rock Music.")
Describe the effects of prosopagnosia and anterograde amnesia on consciousness. (See "The Neuropsychology of Consciousness.")
Define state of consciousness and altered state of consciousness. (See "States of Consciousness.")
Compare and contrast slow-wave and REM sleep. Explain the differences in the EEGs of each sleep stage. Discuss the physiological changes that occur during REM sleep. (See "Slow-Wave Sleep"; see also "REM Sleep.")
Describe a night’s sleep and the changes in sleeping patterns that occur across the lifespan. Discuss the role of culture, society, and the individual in sleep pattern differences. (See "A Night’s Sleep.")
Discuss the symptoms and causes of the following sleep disorders: insomnia, narcolepsy, sleep apnea, sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), nightmares, night terrors, sleepwalking, and REM behavior disorder. Indicate during which stages of sleep they occur. (See "Sleep Disorders.")
Define circadian rhythm and explain its role in sleep patterns. Discuss jet lag and other effects of interfering with the human body clock. (See "Why Do People Sleep?")
Discuss the various hypotheses on the reasons for slow-wave and REM sleep. Define REM rebound. (See "The Functions of Sleep.")
Define dreams and lucid dreaming. (See "Dreams and Dreaming.")
Discuss the various theories that explain why people dream, including wish fulfillment and activation-synthesis theory. (See "Dreams and Dreaming.")
Define hypnosis and describe hypnotic susceptibility, age regression, posthypnotic suggestions, and posthypnotic amnesia. (See "Hypnosis"; see also "Experiencing Hypnosis.")
Describe the five main changes people experience during hypnosis. (See "Experiencing Hypnosis.")
Compare and contrast the state, role, and dissociation theories of hypnosis. (See "Explaining Hypnosis.")
List some of the applications of hypnosis. (See "Applications of Hypnosis.")
Define meditation. List the common characteristics of meditation techniques, and describe their effects. (See "Linkages: Meditation, Health, and Stress.")
Define psychoactive drugs and psychopharmacology. Explain the function of the blood-brain barrier and discuss how agonist and antagonist drugs work. (See "Psychoactive Drugs.")
Define substance abuse, psychological dependence, and physical dependence, or addiction. Explain the mechanisms of withdrawal syndrome and tolerance. (See "The Varying Effects of Drugs.")
Explain the role of learned expectations in the influence of drugs on behavior. (See "Expectations and Drug Effects.")
Define depressant. Describe the effects of alcohol and barbiturates on the nervous system and behavior. (See "Depressants.")
Define stimulant. Describe the effects of amphetamines, cocaine, caffeine, nicotine, and MDMA on the nervous system and behavior. (See "Stimulants.")
Define opiates. Describe the effects of opium, morphine, codeine, and heroin on the nervous system. (See "Opiates.")
Define hallucinogens. Describe the effects of LSD, ketamine, and marijuana on the nervous system and behavior. (See "Hallucinogens.")
Discuss research on the level of danger associated with marijuana use. (See "Thinking Critically: Is Marijuana Dangerous?")